News Picks : Challenge grant may inspire new use for graphene

Guardian: Although the UK has led the world in graphene research and University of Manchester researchers Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, the nation has been slow to commercialize the use of graphene. Now another team at Manchester has received a $100 000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to pursue a rather unique project—developing a new nanomaterial composite to make a better condom. They plan to combine the strength of graphene with the elasticity of latex to make a product that is both safer and more desirable. "If this project is successful, we might have a use for graphene which will literally touch our everyday life,” said Aravind Vijayaraghavan, head of the research team.